Swim to the Moon 10km

EOD

I completed my first marathon swim 10 days ago on Saturday, August 17th at Swim to the Moon in Michigan. I swam the 10km. Race was fantastic. I swam the 5km last year and knew this is where i wanted to swim my first 10km. The race was definitely threatened by potential thunderstorms in the days leading up to it but the weather lifted and was just basically an overcast day. Water Temp was 76F at the start. At beginning of race for about the first 2km definitely felt a current against me. I stayed slow and steady but kept getting pulled to the right and not much forward progress. Eventually things felt more balanced in terms of current and could get moving. I'm very much the adult onset swimmer and started swimming at 35 years old after back surgery. Doctor said it would be best thing for me workout wise going forward. Started recreation swimming couple days a week in addition to weights and bike, and then eventually got interested in OW swimming. Did a couple 1 and 2 mile events. I was then derailed by rotator cuff surgery, (years of heavy lifting more so than swimming being the culprit) but then after a year of no swimming, and plenty of lifting/ shoulder rehabilitation, I was back swimming again. I used weekly yardage as one of my most important metrics to gauge my readiness for this event, ramping it up to between 18k-23k yards for a 4 week period leading up to race, with a one week taper. Before the 18-23k week period, i was probably around 15k yards per week for 3 months. 4 days per week was my normal swim sessions per week, bumping it up to 5x week for the biggest two weeks of training, a 20k and 23k week. Where I believe I could have been better prepared is in long swims. I did a few 6km swims, which follows the rule discussed on here of getting in, at least one training swim of at least 60% distance, but in hindsight with someone who is newer to 10km, or any distance marathon swimming, i would say 80% is a better goal. When i do this same distance again, I will get at least a couple 8km swims in. I need to know what it feels like physically and mentally, the swim became very challenging at around 7 or 8 km. I did all prep in a 25 short course pool, with the exception of two 6km LCM workouts. i realized there is a pool not far from me that offers LCM in the mornings from MAY -AUG. just getting two workouts in a 50 meter pool was a boost and also a reality check on my cardiovascular/ swim fitness. My normal 25 SCY pool tricked me into thinking I was in better swim shape than i really was. I really appreciate all of the discussion on this forum and knew i was on the right track by reading the threads by so many accomplished marathon swimmers. My biggest takeaway is I need longer than a 60% swim target distance swim in training, maybe 75-80% of target distance, but others with more experience may be able to default to 60%. Going forward, more swims in LCM or OW in preparation for event, as well. I am pumped up and happy to have this swim on the books! - Ed

Vswim

Congrats! Great job! I did Swim to the Moon 10k last summer as my first 10k as well. It was great. I wasn’t a fan of the “get out and turn around part” and I had some trouble finding the feeds. But, all in all, it was a great place for a first 10k attempt. I did the 10k here in my home lake in Nebraska in July in The Cornhusker State Games. If you are looking for other 10ks I highly recommend. It’s a smaller race with a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

If you can do some more sessions in open water that is so helpful. I am blessed to have our lake 5 minutes from my house with a great area for extended swims. It is such a different stamina builder than the pool. I love the work in the pool, but in terms of the kind of stamina needed for a long, uninterrupted swim you can’t beat OW, no walls to push off of, no breaks at the wall etc.

Congrats again on your accomplishment!